316 DUCK. 



water, as far as the rump, serving by way of rudder, contrary to the 

 common method of a Duck's swimming. The nest is formed of 

 reeds, and floats on the surface of the water, like that of the Grebe. 



79 —SPANISH DUCK. 



Anas viduata, Ind. Orn. ii. 858. Lin. i. 205. Gm.Lin.i. 536. Jacq.Voy. p. 3. t. 1. 



leucocephala, Bartr. Trav. 292 ? 



Le Canard a petit bee, Voy. d'Azara, iv. No. 432. 



Spanish Duck, Gen. Syn. vi. 525. Id. Sup. 275. Gen. of Birds, p. 65. pi. 13. 



SIZE a trifle less than the Red-billed Whistling Duck. Bill 

 and eyes black ; forehead, cheeks, chin, and back part of the head, 

 pure white; crown black ; round the neck a black collar; back and 

 breast ferruginous, crossed with narrow, dusky lines ; wings pale 

 brown, without any speculum; belly whitish brown, spotted with 

 black; tail cuneiform, black ; legs bluish. 



This is a beautiful species, and inhabits the lakes about Cartha- 

 gena, in South America; has a whistling note, and called by the 

 Spaniards Viudita,* or Little Widow; extends to Buenos Ayres, 

 and in large flocks in Brazil. Male and female differ but little, 

 in the latter the base of the bill is shorter. 



Mr. Pennant figures this bird in his Genera of Birds, ,f and says, 

 that the Spanish Duck frequents Spain and Barbary. We are told 

 also of Ducks, resembling ordinary Wild Ducks, but not so big; 

 the colour black, only white on the forehead ; which are generated 

 in the hollows of the Lake Zirknitz, under the Mountain Javornic; 

 these are said to be, when they first appear, blind, and very sparingly 

 feathered, but after fourteen days get feathers, recover their sight, 

 and afterwards fly away in flocks ; are well tasted, but too luscious, 

 having nearly as much fat as lean. % 



* Misprinted Vindila in the Syst. Nat. f PI. 13. 



X See Description of the Lake Zirknits, in Carniola. — Phil. Trans, xvi. p. 425. 



